as in increased
being at a higher level than average
for a time there was an escalated interest in the historical figure following the release of the blockbuster biography
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in rose
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
as the war between the two countries escalated, it threatened to become a global conflict
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in accelerated
to make greater in size, amount, or number
the president promised to escalate the government's program to combat the dreaded disease
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of escalated
Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
Tensions have escalated at a controversial immigration detention center in late May as advocates outside protest conditions, some detainees inside forego food in protest, and federal officials call in New Jersey police at the gates.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 30 May 2026
The system escalated symmetrically rather than rebalancing.
—Bruce Sibley, Time, 29 May 2026
But things eventually escalated, leaving the honeybee in pieces.
—Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2026
Atletico Madrid have escalated their row with Barcelona over forward Julian Alvarez with a series of fake transfer rumour posts on social media, including pretending to offer Bad Bunny tickets in exchange for Lamine Yamal.
—Ali Rampling, New York Times, 29 May 2026
The protest has also escalated to a governmental level, with Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Sports jointly issuing a public statement of protest.
—Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 29 May 2026
Russia has dramatically escalated its aerial assaults in the recent week after the end of the short ceasefire, launching massive drone barrages targeting cities and logistical hubs across Ukraine, including areas near NATO territory close to the Polish border.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026
Now Washington has sharply escalated tensions by indicting the 94-year-old former Cuban president, Raúl Castro (brother of Fidel).
—Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 22 May 2026
Verb
Tensions escalated when Tigray held regional elections in defiance of thata federal delay, leading to a political standoff that erupted into a civil war in November 2020.
—Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
Tensions have escalated at a controversial immigration detention center in late May as advocates outside protest conditions, some detainees inside forego food in protest, and federal officials call in New Jersey police at the gates.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 30 May 2026
The system escalated symmetrically rather than rebalancing.
—Bruce Sibley, Time, 29 May 2026
But things eventually escalated, leaving the honeybee in pieces.
—Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2026
Atletico Madrid have escalated their row with Barcelona over forward Julian Alvarez with a series of fake transfer rumour posts on social media, including pretending to offer Bad Bunny tickets in exchange for Lamine Yamal.
—Ali Rampling, New York Times, 29 May 2026
The protest has also escalated to a governmental level, with Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Sports jointly issuing a public statement of protest.
—Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 29 May 2026
Russia has dramatically escalated its aerial assaults in the recent week after the end of the short ceasefire, launching massive drone barrages targeting cities and logistical hubs across Ukraine, including areas near NATO territory close to the Polish border.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026
Now Washington has sharply escalated tensions by indicting the 94-year-old former Cuban president, Raúl Castro (brother of Fidel).
—Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 22 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escalated
Adjective
-
The strongest effect came from increased feelings of security, trust and reliance within the relationship.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
But analysts see 2026 as a period of consolidation for the sector, in which bullishness over Europe's increased defense spending is replaced by greater scrutiny of individual companies' performance and fundamentals.—
Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Guests arrive at breakfast in white linen shirts and silver Havanas and hang out by the pool drinking bottles of Provencal rose rather than piña coladas.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
But her star rose and that joyful, beautiful, rather guileless young woman trying to stay cool in a hot city summer lives forever.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
This trend accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
New research suggests that both too little and too much sleep may be linked to accelerated biological aging.—
Brian Mastroianni,
Health,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
The waffle-stitch of this sweater tank is perfectly elevated and pairs beautifully with wide-leg or boyfriend jeans, skirts, and shorts.—
Staff Author,
Travel + Leisure,
31 May 2026
-
But the elevated velocity didn’t seem to affect his performance beyond extending at-bats.—
Liana Handler,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Lucas Mukasa / Anadolu via Getty Images Angry protests swelled Monday, including in the central town of Nanyuki, which is set to host the quarantine center.—
Mithil Aggarwal,
NBC news,
2 June 2026
-
As crowds outside the venue swelled, officials brought in an additional 200 law enforcement officers during the early afternoon.—
Sofia Baltodano,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
On Tuesday, Anthropic expanded the effort to include 150 organizations in more than 15 countries.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
-
The word also figured heavily in the Alien and Sedition Acts, a set of four 18th century laws that restricted citizenship, expanded the president’s authority to detain and deport foreigners, and criminalized dissenting speech.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
Newsom has since pointed to this high state funding to call on the federal government to step up its own investments into forest management work.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
-
The second highest waste generator that year, Tesla’s plant in Fremont, produced 115,136 pounds of MMA waste, by comparison, records show.—
Jason Henry,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Stocks ended the week higher, boosted by gains in the technology sector and optimism over a ceasefire extension in the Middle East, and all three major market averages scored new intraday and closing records on Friday.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
30 May 2026
-
Additionally, 23andMe struggled to license its tech to pharmaceutical companies, which could have boosted profits.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Escalated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escalated. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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